Japhet

Japhet
The guardian of Zone 2.

Japhet is the Guardian of Zone 2. Like other Guardians, such as Dedan of Zone 1, he is responsible for administering the affairs of his Zone in accordance of the wishes of The Queen. He first appears in the form of a cat, but his true form is that of a large bird, looking very similar to the mythological phoenix and firebird creatures.

Although intelligent, strong, and ambitious, by the time of the game's events within the OFF world he has grown emotionally distraught and torn about how things in his Zone has deteriorated. Though trying to maintain his grip over the various Elsens he rules over, he anticipates his own death due to his failure. He is ultimately confronted about the corruptions that have taken place by The Batter and The Player before being killed.

Role in the game

He first appears as a cat, having an extremely close resemblance toThe Judge. In his true form, however, Japhet is a bird that appears like a giant firebird or phoenix creature. He is most likely responsible for the death of the Judge's brother, Valerie, and was using Valerie's body as a disguise. The exact reason for adopting this alternate form is unknown, although it is likely tied to Japhet's mental deterioration as he grows to loathe the Zone that he rules over.

In contrast to other enemies encountered, Japhet appears to have a fundamental sense that he has failed, understanding that he has been unable to rule over his Zone as he should have, and that things have fallen apart. At least some of the spectres that exist in the game (perhaps all of them) were intentionally created by him. It is unclear to what extent he knows about the full extent of The Batter's purification mission, with success for the Batter meaning the end of the entire world of OFF including every last Zone, or of the existence of The Player. However, despite fighting in vain for his life against the Batter, he is described as having wept profusely and recognized himself as being "evil" as well as anticipating ahead of time his own death.

The story of Japhet

Japhet is often mentioned in the various books found in the library as the glorious leader of the Elsen, the subordinate beings at first enjoying the pleasures of his benevolent rule but then starting to fear him. This angered Japhet, seeing the areas under his control deteriorating into despair and madness, and he decided to take revenge by summoning the various spectres encountered in Zone 2. It is unclear whether he actually controls those beings or merely believes himself to do so, and various interpretations also remain as to why other calamitous things such as transformations into Burnt Elsen happen (Japhet may have intentionally caused this corruption, unintentionally caused it, encountered it naturally as happening due to inherent flaws in the design of the Zone, etc).

In the upper levels of the library, the Batter is faced with a puzzle that gives the opportunity to read several pages in which Japhet's story and relationship with the Elsen is explained. The puzzle must be completed before progress can be made. While the reliability of this account is questionable, it is generally considered genuine due to the frankness and straightforwardness of the writing.

The pages read:

Drawing from his waning forces, he created the Library, more beautiful than ever before. Its height pierced the smoky clouds and there he stood.

Much like a guardian angel, he had done everything for them. He had brought them peace, security and entertainment. Such was his generosity.

For a while, that was all good and well for all, they enjoyed the new land with the innocence of a child. They were running down the streets, enjoying …

But the dynamics of the world soon drove the people mad. They forgot about their joys and eventually succumbed to their neurosis of fear and worries.

Meanwhile, the Flaming Winged Sovereign weeped on his throne, their joys saddened to have been forgotten by Man. He had no more time for their worries.

And so the Flaming Bird turned into a cat and the cat into a Ruler. Driven insane by his anger and sadness, he summoned forth a storm of evil spirits upon his subjects. His madness had ...

While the spectres were destroying the world he had created, he sought shelter (sic) at the summit of his most wonderful creation, the Great Library.

There was nothing else to be done but wait for the man who would rise forth to destroy him. For deep inside his soul, there was no doubt that what he did was Evil. The End

Battles

Japhet is battled twice in the game. He is first fought in the library's rooms, possessing Valerie. In this battle, he attempts to summon various spectres to fight the Batter. He fails and ultimately flees, cutting things short. After the battle, the second Add-On, named "Omega", is found.

Japhet is fought again on the roof of the library, which he may have gone up to in order to fly to safety in another Zone. He has three different forms, in each of which he emerges further from Valerie's dead body. Since Japhet is a songbird, his Competences are all sound-themed.

The Room

In The Room, The Batter encounters an entity known simply as "The Bird". This being appears to be a version of Japhet before the events through which he became a Guardian. Akin to the intentionally cheerful version of Japhet described in the writings within the library, this alternate songbird has a caring, resourceful personality. He repeatedly warns the Batter to be careful not to fall off of the cliff he is perched upon. The Batter asks him to help the creature known as "The Big Mister" out of the hole he is trapped in, which the Bird is able to accomplish by attaching a whole flock of other birds to the Big Mister by ropes and instructing said flock to lift the big creature up. The Bird does this in return for a book, which contains a diagram of an orchid.

The orchid book can also be found in Japhet's library earlier on in Zone Two. As well, an orchid is seen painted on a wall near the top of the library while ascending to battle Japhet. These symbols appear inherently associated with the character just like how baseball imagery is associated with the Batter.

Trivia

• Orchids are commonly used not just as foods and flavorings but are also grown for medicinal uses as well as just to be decoration. Japhet's early adoption of this as a symbol may point to his desire to provide the Elsen with not just material comforts and care for their health but also with recreation.
• As with mutliple other names in the OFF world, "Japhet" has religious significance. The figure of Japhet (also known as Japheth) in the Bible is one of the sons of Noah and is regarded as a legendary ancestor to the peoples of Europe.[1]
• The description of Japhet as being a firebird directly references the various mythologies about those creatures, many of which involve them functioning as guardians for various individuals or groups.[2]

Gallery

By Mortis Ghost.

Sketches of battle sprites by Mortis Ghost.

By Mortis Ghost.